Premier League flops of the season – part one

With the best will in the world, I aimed to make this a top ten feature. However, with a shortlist of about 35 names, I simply had to break it down into two parts. So it is ten today, and ten tomorrow, and very few people spared my wrath.

20. Winston Reid
There is a general rule against signing players based on a couple of decent performances at a World Cup, especially when the country they represent massively overachieved. West Ham did not heed this advice when they shelled out a ridiculous £4million to Danish club FC Midtjylland for the New Zealand defender.

Reid has been trusted with three starts in the Premier League, at over a million pounds a pop, and will probably be allowed to leave this summer after relegation.

19. Joe Cole
Joe would be a lot higher up this list if he hadn’t been free.

There were a few eyebrows raised when the England midfielder was allowed to leave Chelsea, and the Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was suitably impressed:

“Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do Joe can do as well, if not better. He used to shock us in training by doing footy tricks with a golf ball that most players can’t even do with a football. I really fancy Joe for the Player of the Season award this season”

How did that turn out?

18. Nikola Zigic
It’s not just that Zigic has been a little bit rubbish, it’s the logic of spending £6million on a striker that was 30 a month after you bought him and had scored just 18 league goals in four seasons.

Zigic has scored five goals in 25 league games, but just doesn’t quite look the part, with only three goals since October. When the going has got tough for Birmingham, Zigic has gone noticeably quiet.

17. Arsene WengerA season of ‘what might have been’ for Wenger and Arsenal. But with the club getting so close only to bottle it at the final hurdle time and time again, serious questions have been asked of Wenger’s philosophy.

Why has he not invested in leaders? Why has he made poor defensive signings? And why do Arsenal seemingly lack a plan B when their Barcelona-lite football does not pay off?

He may answer these queries this summer, but it’s a year too late.

16. Stephen IrelandIt was not outrageous to suggest last summer that Aston Villa got the best out of the James Milner deal, bringing Ireland to Villa Park. But it has been an annus horriblis for the Irish midfielder. Whether through injury, lack of desire or dreadful home furnishing judgment, Ireland has gone from international class to run-of-the-mill Premier League player in 8 months.

Started just five games for Villa (none of which they won) before being allowed to move to Newcastle on loan in January, where he has since played 49 minutes of Premier League football. Remarkably, Ireland has featured in just one Premier League win this season.

15. Paul KoncheskyIt seems crazy that it was only a year ago that Konchesky was playing in a Europa League final and was possibly England’s second choice left back. The dream move came to Liverpool, where he could show that he was ready for the big time….oh.

In fairness was involved in 16 Premier League games at Anfield, but only won four league games under Roy Hodgson and did not make a single appearance under King Kenny. Then loaned to Nottingham Forest, where I can reveal that he was steady without touching outstanding. It was almost as if he had found his true level.

14. Matthew UpsonWhilst this is only the third highest of the West Ham entrants, it would be fair to say that Matthew Upson’s reputation has been ravaged this season.

His club was in the mire, and it needed leaders. Scott Parker could not do it alone. Instead, Upson simply meandered through the season, part of a defence that has been, at times, non-existent. Such a let down from a player when it mattered most, and may have put paid to his international career.

13. Edin DzekoHas shown glimpses of his talent, but would have finished far higher up this list but for his important winner at Blackburn last month. I am a firm believer in giving foreign players (particularly young ones) the time to settle into a new club in a new country with a new language, but for £27million, City fans must have expected more.

Has often displayed a first touch that means he is constantly battling to protect the ball, and that is fairly unreasonable for a striker that came for such a fee.

12. Christian PoulsenRoy Hodgson’s Liverpool tenure wasn’t all bad when you consider the impression that Raul Meireles has made. But then there were the results. And Konchesky. And Cole. And then Christian Poulsen. Signed for £4.5million, it is one of modern football’s greatest mysteries as to how the Danish midfielder held down a regular place at Juventus, Sevilla and Schalke.

Is neither an enforcer or an attacker, and displays no apparent urgency to rush forwards or back. Has played twelve times in the Premier League (but not since February), and last started a game in January. It would appear that Liverpool have learnt their mistake, and the Dane will head for pastures new this summer.

11. BebeDon’t get me wrong, United have had an unbelievable season, and Fergie’s input has been instrumental. But what was he thinking? I wrote a piece in January labelling the worst signings of the season at that point, and was criticised for not giving Bebe time.

Has played 75 minutes of football all season, which includes being brought on after ten minutes and then being subbed off himself after 75.

Has the potential to drift off into the unknown, which for a £7.4million striker is fairly impressive.

Off The Post is dedicated to bringing you all the latest football news, views, rumour and humour. Get your transfer gossip fix and everything else you need to know about what’s going on in the world of the beautiful game.